Category: Written in Ink

Disclaimer: The song “Red” belongs to Taylor Swift. All characters and the world belong to Star Wars, but the plot and everything else is mine. Please don’t steal my work, and give credit if you decide to post it somewhere else and whatnot. With that said, I hope y’all enjoy it! Oh, and the collages are made by me.

Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end streetFaster than the wind, passionate as sin ending so suddenly

His hand hovered over her face, until the black leather touched her cheek in a feathery, soft wisp. She was frozen in place, unable to move. Her hazel eyes locked on his darker ones, knowing she should call out a warning to the Resistance – do anything but stand here in a dreamlike trance.

“Do you even know what you do to me?”

Oh, most certainly. Likely the same horrible, spell-binding pull that seemed to draw them together – always together. Never being able to truly hate one another, always with the longing that they could be something more. Together. As One.

In a sudden burst of movement, he pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss full of the ridiculous adoration that he could never stop carrying for this tiny, spitfire of a woman. And to her shame, she found herself responding in equal longing and neediness.

Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you’re already flying through the free fallLike the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all

“Rey.”

She shook her head, already knowing what he was going to say. The hallway of the building was eerily empty save for the presence of two orphaned souls. Turning, she saw her friend’s crestfallen face – sensitive spirit trying to understand why in the universe she would do this. “I’m sorry Finn. I-I can’t change how I feel – it’s beyond my control – the Force…” Her voice trailed off, shoulders sagging wearily. There was no logical explanation for this, nothing she could say that would make him or herself feel any better. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Losing him was blue like I’d never knownMissing him was dark grey all aloneForgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met

Rey clung to him tightly, refusing to let go. She would not, would not let him do this. Of course, considering the fact that he was a good foot taller than her and at least physically, much stronger, she knew he could easily pull her off and leave. Leave. “No! I will not allow this! Not after everything, does this mean nothing to you?” She shoved her ring finger in front of his face, tears pooling in her eyes.

Closing his eyes tightly, he rested his forehead against hers – breathing in deeply. “Sweetheart, this-this running from planet to planet is no life for a family. No life for-for you. You deserve better…”

“But what if I don’t want anything better?” came her choked reply.

“I have to do this.”

But loving him was redLoving him was red

“Don’t be afraid, I feel it too.”
…
“I need someone to show me my place in all of this.”

Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of youMemorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song

She staggered backwards, battle wounds causing her vision to swarm. Right before black completely clouded her sight, she thought she saw a worried, anxious face leaning over hers.

When she finally awoke, she wondered where she was, what had happened. Then, she remembered. Luke had sent her on a solo mission to an Outer Rim planet. While there, she had encountered Kylo Ren. So much had happened…strange creatures had attacked, forcing them to become allies out of necessity. Even before that, he had – surprisingly, saved her from drowning.

Looking to her left, she gasped. There lay Kylo Ren, knocked out cold. She shifted slowly, not wanting to disrupt her wounds, but when they did not pain her, she came to the strange conclusion that he had healed her. But is that not a Light Side technique?
Shakily, she crawled over to him, hand trembling as she unconsciously rested it against his scarred face. In his current state, his entire body was relaxed and she almost felt as though she had known him in another life.

Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there’s no right answerRegretting him was like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong

“It is you.”
“You’re a monster!”
…
“I can train you! Show you the ways of the Force!”The Force…
She swung.

Losing him was blue like I’d never knownMissing him was dark gray all aloneForgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met

She could not stop shaking. Frantically, she reached up and cradled his face in her hands. His face that she knew so well. Subconsciously, she traced every scar that marked him, tenderly brushing her fingers over their surface. “Please,” she begged, voice barely audible. “Please, we can leave now.”

His tortured soul grew more conflicted as his wife lovingly caressed him.

She glanced down at her swelling stomach. Eight months pregnant. “I can’t do this alone. Please, please. We can go – live in some remote planet. I don’t care! Just – ” She broke off in a choked sob.

Overhead, aircraft sounded. It was too late. The Resistance had come for Kylo Ren. Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces, and she could only muster more tears as her love, her soulmate held her tightly.

But loving him was redOh redBurning red

“How can you love me? After everything I’ve done?” He whispered to her, voice broken.
She tilted her head to look at him, noticing the sorrowful, self-hatred emotion that filled his eyes. Shushing him, she rested her head against his chest. It was late at night, they had both been exhausted after numerous death threats throughout the day. Shrugging her shoulders, she yawned sleepily. “Dunno, I guess-I guess I just always saw the good in you. And I blame Snoke for starting you on it. No, no. I know it doesn’t excuse anything, but that-that,” she let out a sharp, insulting curse word for the disgusting creature, “he watched you since you were born. And anyways,” she snuggled against him, “you’re the only one who understands me.”

Emotion filled his throat, and he could do nothing but place the most tender and innocent of kisses on her forehead.

Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoesTell myself it’s time now, gotta let goBut moving on from him is impossibleWhen I still see it all in my headBurning redBurning it was red

She awoke with a sweaty gasp, shuddering under the weight of memories. Tears slipped down her cheeks, though she alone saw them in the darkness of night. How much longer could she go on like this?

Oh losing him was blue like I’d never knownMissing him was dark gray all aloneForgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met

She wanted so badly to kill every single one of the guards who were holding her husband, her love captive. They had tied his hands together, feet locked in chains. He wore a black cuff on his hand that weakened his contact with the Force. Clenching her fists tightly, fury bubbled up in her as she watched them mockingly parade him around on the platform.

As though sensing her emotion, Ben Solo met her gaze – shaking his head slightly. Somehow she knew what he was saying…no. don’t Rey. I don’t want you to suffer on account of me.

But you’ll die! she shouted through their bond that not even the Force inhibiting cuff could cut off. In some part of her mind, she knew he was right. They had a child, her infant son. She could not leave him without a father and a mother. “I love you,” she whispered, blinking back tears.

He gave her a sad, lopsided smile. “I’ll always love you, sweetheart.”

‘Cause loving him was redYeah, yeah redWe’re burning red

As he fell to the ground in a heap, killed by the Resistance in accord with his First Order history, something in her snapped. An unearthly scream escaped her throat, and in some manner, she managed to instantly appear at his fallen side. Cradling his body to her, tears flooded down her cheeks and face.

No, no. This could not be happening! Where there was once his comforting presence in the back of her mind, now there was nothing. Her head spun with the pain of having the one she was bonded with taken from her in so cruel a manner.

A giant wave of the Force erupted from her – freezing everyone in place.

She had lost her lover, part of her soul. All she had left of him was her son, and she would be damned if she let anyone lay a finger on him. Not after losing Ben.

Disclaimer: All characters and the world belong to Star Wars, but the plot and everything else is mine. Please don’t steal my work, and give credit if you decide to post it somewhere else and whatnot. With that said, I hope y’all enjoy it!

She picked up on his scent immediately…it was so, so unmistakably him. He smelled of pain and heartache – agony settling deep into his bones long ago; and yet…there was something else. Something torn and shattered, needing – no, pleading to be made whole again. The tiniest, smallest flicker of hope that continued to give the barest light in his world of darkness.

Against the logic of herself and the rest of the galaxy, she breathed in deeply. The scent of metal, something only a scavenger could appreciate, hit her nose instantly. And then, as she focused, an aroma of leather and spearmint, mixed together in a wonderful abrasion floated through the air. The effect was immediate. Her stiffened shoulders and anxious lines cross-crossing her face relaxed. She couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but there was just something about it that calmed her…made her feel safe and secure.

With a frigid chill, a breeze brushed against her cheek – causing her heart to thump violently. The very air seemed to hum with the Force, thrumming with every vibration and breath. Intangible, yet she could almost touch it. It was right before her, and still farther than a lightyear away. What was this? Who –

Then, she saw him. Almost like a phantom, a ghost who she alone could see. Him with his deep eyes, saying far more than words ever could -an ebony lock drifting over his brow. He moved silently towards her, a beautiful, yet deadly creature – treading the ground with power and strength. Shadows, casted by the twilight in all of it’s romantic mysteriousness, fell over his face…across his left cheek. Unconsciously, her gaze drifted to the scar that would always remain – a reminder, a whisper of falling snow, flashing sabers, and her trembling heart that somehow seemed to beat in sync with his.

“Do you feel it?”

He stood before her, towering over her much smaller frame. His words, betraying the otherwise intimidating demeanor, were tender – an inquiry intended only for her ears to catch. Every logical neuron in her mind, every bit of survivor experience she had gathered from that dust pit screamed against the closeness of the enemy – told her to get away, to move. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to muster up enough strength to take a step in the opposite direction.

“I – ”

She could not. Something-something beyond herself, had her feet glued to the grassy ground. The darkening skies and the dimming sun could not even hold a flame to the phenomenon that seemed to tie her soul with his. What was it?

Suddenly, a rough hand lifted her chin gently. On instinct, she looked up and found herself drowning in his dark eyes, that seemed to pool with every emotion that the universe could offer. Heart pounding, she tried to make some sense of this insanity. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, a single tear escaping. Her senses were overcome. She inhaled sharply.

“Ree,” his deep voice murmured, wiping her tears away. In his own mind, he had always called her this. Perhaps silly, trivial even – and yet, it felt right.

Despite the fact that her throat felt closed off, Rey managed to choke out, “I-I don’t understand!” She did not understand at all. She did not understand why this was happening to her, why in the galaxy the Force decided she should be the one. She did not understand why she did not hate him – why her heart and mind seemed flooded with anything, anything but loathing. She did not understand why every time they drew near to one another, a spark seemed to light within her veins.

In that never-ending way she still did not grasp, somehow he knew the confusion that wrecked through her very being. Rey found herself drawn into a tight embrace, her head buried in his chest and his arms wrapped around her. Tears continued to slip from her hazel eyes. Too many emotions and feelings flooded her. Why was this so confusing? Everything was so much simpler back on Jakku…”I should hate you,” she mumbled against his cloak.

He nodded wordlessly, stroking her hair with the tenderest of touches. “I know.”

Best Quote (“Welcome back to my glamorous life as a New York City dancing sensation”)

Ally:

Best Historical Fiction

Best Supporting Female Character – Lucille

Best Opening Line (“Too ripe. Too soft. Too hard. It’s near impossible to find some simple, organic food nowadays and we’re in 1933 too! You’d think we’d at least know how to grow fruit by now,” complained the middle aged woman to the buck teeth brunette twirling impatiently in the Market”)

Joshua:

Best Mystery-Sherlock Holmes

Cherri:

Best Description/Sentence (“As I round the corner the wind catches my hair and my heart trips, for stretched before me is such elaborate magnificence. I cannot take it all in. It’s too much. Much too big”)